Is there a good way to get your child to sleep through the night??

Gemma - posted on 07/29/2010

My daughter slept through the night from 6 weeks, and my son didnt do it till he was about 6 month old! They are all different, we have a bedtime routine, of bath, milk, story and bed, and he was in bed for 7 every night, I think that helps, although as i say they ae all so different it might just be a case of being as patient as you can. Was she sleeping through the night before now? is she on solids? she is maybe waking up because she is not getting enough food through the day. Take care and good luck!]]Gemma xxx

Itsa - posted on 07/29/2010

Babies are physiologically made to sleep in REM throught the night in order for brain reparation. All day long they are bombarded with a million new sensations, pictures, words, motions, sounds, movements, etc etc etc etc. During naps they are so PHYSICALLY exhausted so they sleep in DEEP sleep. At night though, their brain puts their body in REM or light sleep. That is the only sleep in which their brains can repair, sort out new information and build new cells. Any noise, even their own breathing, can wake them from this. It's unfortunate but it is how they develop!

Also, babies are more comfortable with mom and or dad because during the day you give them comfort and reassurance. At night, alone in their crib, they don't get that which is why it is so difficult for them to get back to sleep after the innevitable waking. My husband and our son share a bed at night, it's their time to bond, snuggle etc as I am home all day with him. This way, I get a good nights sleep and daddy and baby spend much needed time together (even if they're just sleeping!).

Remember, it won't last forever and you're DEFINATELY not alone!

Ann - posted on 07/28/2010

At about 4 months we started giving our baby rice cereal in a bottle because she wouldn't eat it in a spoon yet. On ocassion we would try to feed her again, but no luck until about 5 months. However, we did start to feed her the rice cereal in the bottle we then fed her that bottle around 7:30pm before she went to bed at 8pm and she started to sleep longer because her tummy was full. We still do that now and it works wonderfully ever since.

Chasity - posted on 07/23/2010

I do the bath and the rocking along with feeding before bed. I wish sometimes she would take a binky because it probably would help. I even try to coax her back to sleep by rubbing her back or rocking her but nothing works unless she is being fed. She wont take the binky she only likes her thumb. Even that won't work. She eats really good during the day so its not like she is missing out on any food. Maybe its just her personality and when she is ready to sleep through the night she will.

Brooke - posted on 07/23/2010

My daughter is 3 1/2 months old and I know they sleep alot when they are younger but I have developed a pattern to sleepy time, bath time, sleepy-time lotion (works wonders!) and then breastfeed, then cuddle and rock her and then night time. I own a pack and play which has a Vibrating piece in it to vibrate the bassinet so it just puts her right to sleep for about 8 hrs at night. My daughter eats every 4 hrs in the day and then on the good nights she will sleep 8 hrs and then want to nurse and then she will go back to sleep for a few hrs. Hope something helped... :) Also every time she thinks she wants to wake up in the night i put her binky (miracle worker) back in her mouth and turn the vibrating feature on and she will pass back out.